Sommerset Man Indicted for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Sommerset, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for unlawfully possessing a firearm.

Paul F. Doering, age 49, was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 19, 2011, for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen K. Klein in Fargo, North Dakota, on July 27, 2011. The possible penalty upon conviction is 0-10 years of imprisonment and a possible enhancement of 15 years to life imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine. The charge is merely an accusation, and Doering is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms & Explosives, the Pennington County Sheriff's Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman is prosecuting the case.

Doering was released on bond pending trial and will make an initial appearance in Rapid City on August 11, 2011, at 11:30 a.m. A trial date has not yet been set.